Sunday, 27 July 2014
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Elizabeth and her beau
Date: 25 - 27 July 2014
Party: Elizabeth and Peter
Venue: Mt Hutt
Party: Elizabeth and Peter
Venue: Mt Hutt
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| Canterbury Plains and sea beyond |
Friday, 25 July 2014
Mairangi Bay - Browns Bay - Torbay - La Tropezienne - Mairangi Bay
Date: 25 July 2014
Party: Anna, Lesley
Map: http://www.teararoa.org.nz/auckland/
Distance: 11 km ish
Elevation: Negligible
Time: 3 hours, including coffee and cake at Browns Bay and rock pool investigations
Notes: Elizabeth was at Mt Hutt, heli-skiing, so we just had to do SOMETHING interesting. Ignoring the clouds and the Car B*^#4 who was trying to GPS us to South America, and planning for low tide so that we didn't get mermaided by an invading sea, we headed North. From Mairangi Bay we made our way across an above-ground sewage-line that has been covered in concrete and made to look like rock...really. And it does! From there up across the cliffs and back down to the beach until we got to Torbay, where we turned around and headed to La Tropezienne in Browns Bay. (Great coffee and a spectacular range of pastries and breads. Rhubarb and almond tarts may have been consumed in the interests of accurate reporting). We came back via as many rock pools and slippery rocks as possible, stopping with a motley collection of dogs in a toilet block after a lone heavy shower. (We are all class.) Lovely little green anemones, and everywhere a different type of rock. We were very taken with the swimming pool cantilevered out over the cliff, and the mysterious black sand at Murray's Bay. Oh and the jetty at Mairangi Bay. And the pigeons roosting in the cliffs. Not taken with the rocks gently falling down the cliffs.
Party: Anna, Lesley
Map: http://www.teararoa.org.nz/auckland/
Distance: 11 km ish
Elevation: Negligible
Time: 3 hours, including coffee and cake at Browns Bay and rock pool investigations
Notes: Elizabeth was at Mt Hutt, heli-skiing, so we just had to do SOMETHING interesting. Ignoring the clouds and the Car B*^#4 who was trying to GPS us to South America, and planning for low tide so that we didn't get mermaided by an invading sea, we headed North. From Mairangi Bay we made our way across an above-ground sewage-line that has been covered in concrete and made to look like rock...really. And it does! From there up across the cliffs and back down to the beach until we got to Torbay, where we turned around and headed to La Tropezienne in Browns Bay. (Great coffee and a spectacular range of pastries and breads. Rhubarb and almond tarts may have been consumed in the interests of accurate reporting). We came back via as many rock pools and slippery rocks as possible, stopping with a motley collection of dogs in a toilet block after a lone heavy shower. (We are all class.) Lovely little green anemones, and everywhere a different type of rock. We were very taken with the swimming pool cantilevered out over the cliff, and the mysterious black sand at Murray's Bay. Oh and the jetty at Mairangi Bay. And the pigeons roosting in the cliffs. Not taken with the rocks gently falling down the cliffs.
Friday, 18 July 2014
Te Henga - Lake Wainamu - Waitohi Falls
Date: 18 July 2014
Party: Anna, Elizabeth, Lesley
Map: http://planmyplay.co.nz/play/free-things-to-do-lake-wainamu-sand-surfing
Distance: ?
Elevation: ? Hardly any
Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Notes: This was a very leisurely stroll, with lots to look at. We met a lovely family in the carpark (Dad, Grand-dad and two boys) heading off to Anawhata, and saw them again as they came down one of the bigger sand dunes. Grand-dad looked a little worried! After a wee walk following the stream, we came to the lake and checked out the dodgy jetty, before coming across the (unexpected) waterfall. Fabulous Maori carving by the side of the waterfall, which seemed to be a succession of enticing pools. A bit chilly for the bikini and boogie board, but obviously popular during summer. We were not sure if the lake track continued around in a full circle, as the two maps we had seen differed, but decided to go there anyway. Awesome nikau palm glade, and a walk back across the dunes rather than by the side of the stream again. Another lunch at the incomparable Swanson Station Café, although it was busier than usual...but the sun was shining...and the coffee and company were good...
Party: Anna, Elizabeth, Lesley
Map: http://planmyplay.co.nz/play/free-things-to-do-lake-wainamu-sand-surfing
Distance: ?
Elevation: ? Hardly any
Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Notes: This was a very leisurely stroll, with lots to look at. We met a lovely family in the carpark (Dad, Grand-dad and two boys) heading off to Anawhata, and saw them again as they came down one of the bigger sand dunes. Grand-dad looked a little worried! After a wee walk following the stream, we came to the lake and checked out the dodgy jetty, before coming across the (unexpected) waterfall. Fabulous Maori carving by the side of the waterfall, which seemed to be a succession of enticing pools. A bit chilly for the bikini and boogie board, but obviously popular during summer. We were not sure if the lake track continued around in a full circle, as the two maps we had seen differed, but decided to go there anyway. Awesome nikau palm glade, and a walk back across the dunes rather than by the side of the stream again. Another lunch at the incomparable Swanson Station Café, although it was busier than usual...but the sun was shining...and the coffee and company were good...
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| Is it an airplane? A balloon? Alien spacecraft? |
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